Digitalization has been here for a long time. You can neither vote it out nor ignore it. But what does a digitalization that puts society at the centre look like? With the DigitalLabor, we travelled across Switzerland with the question: (How) do you want to digitize Switzerland?
For more than twelve months, the DigitalLabor on Tour travelled through Switzerland to get to know people in all parts of the country. We wanted to know: What influence does digitalization have on everyday life and social coexistence? What should the future of work look like? What do education and participation mean in the world of tomorrow?
With the DigitalLabor, we looked ahead and considered with local people what a liveable digital Switzerland of the future would look like. From Lichtensteig to Martigny, Basel, Chur, Lucerne, Yverdon-les-Bains, Lugano and Zurich.
Don't let digitalization pass you by, it's here and happening, we have to actively shape it.
Anonymous
Participant from Basel
Visions of a (digital) Lucerne are discussed in the Neubad
How much digitization and for what?
The pandemic at the latest showed that digitization is systemically relevant. Our tour fell right in the middle of the wave of forced digitalization: at breakneck speed, offices, school lessons, cultural events and even family game nights were moved to the internet. This changed our way of working together, learning and being - digitalization, with its opportunities and challenges, was arguably more present than ever before. It quickly became apparent that certain changes would remain even after the exceptional situation ended.
Participants work out desirable future scenarios in Lichtensteig
I would actually like to see a digital commons. Why is there no public space in digital space?
Che Wagner
Participant from Basel
A student from Basel designs a tool for the future of work
That is why we need to negotiate early on how we want to shape Switzerland's digital future. Thinking about desirable futures shows room for manoeuvre and encourages people to get involved. Through discussions and knowledge sharing and transfer, we got participants thinking about a liveable digital future.
What is the dose of digital consumption that we can tolerate? We already know with cigarettes or alcohol, but not yet with digital.
Anonymous
Participant in Chur
What does a desirable (digital) future look like in Chur?
Visions of a (digital) Switzerland 2030
The aim of the DigitalLabor was to offer a broad audience the opportunity to debate and discuss digitalization. The participants of the DigitalLabor designed a common vision of digital Switzerland 2030 over eight stages.
In my vision, a Basel of the future should gain tranquillity through digitality instead of sinking into hecticness
Jo Vergeat
Cantonal Councillor Canton Basel-Stadt
Jo Vergeat presents her vision of a (digital) Basel 2030
What is undisputed is that we need a digital future for Switzerland that puts people at the centre. A future in which structures exist that make it possible for digitalization to be widely accessible. A future in which rural areas have become more attractive thanks to digitalization. A future in which digitization is not exclusively private, but a digitization in which public digital infrastructures have been created in the interest of all. A future in which digitization is not an end in itself, but helps to solve problems. Finally, a digitalization that does not standardize but promotes diversity.
Guy Mandon presents his new album on the image format GIFs
How do you develop a common vision?
In eight stages we debated together about the future of work and education as well as social and political participation. To do this, we used and developed different formats: From interactive courses, discussion rounds and lectures to exhibitions and concerts. The aim was to involve as many people as possible in as many different ways as possible.
